Students will be able to discuss the physical experience of medieval drama.
Relevant Course Outcome
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the audiences and other historical contexts of literature.
In order to get a sense of medieval drama as well as to have a different, more active experience with some of the texts, we will, as a class, produce a play (perhaps more than one). There will be class time devoted to this project, both for discussion and for rehearsal
Instructions
After studying medieval drama and reading several examples, the class a whole will decide on a play (or more than one) to produce.
Students will choose their roles, and we will have auditions if more than one student wants the same role.
Throughout the semester, we will have opportunities to do practice readings and have rehearsals.
The Play assignment is 10% of your overall course grade. To earn that grade, you will complete this worksheet to the best of your ability and as thoroughly as possible. Due: It will be due by email to Dr. T by Friday, December 5, at midnight (bring rough draft of first set of questions to class in the Hub on Wednesday, December 3, 11AM) Requirements: typed, any format allowed
15th century: A Mystery play following the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible, though diverging from the original story in several interesting ways. 10 roles.
"Everyman" (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)
15th century: A Morality play following the revelations of the titular character after he is told that he will soon die and his frantic and futile attempts to find one of a host of personified characters who would be willing to accompany him to the grave. 17 roles.
York Crucifixion Play, 726-33
15th century: A Miracle/Mystery play depicting the isolated events of Christ’s Crucifixion. Though focusing on the violent event, it exhibits a dark humor. 5 roles.
The Second Shepherds’ Play, 698-713 – 15th century: A Biblical pageant play. When a lamb owned by three shepherds is stolen by a conman, they go to his house to find it, but they are momentarily confused when the man and his wife pretend the lamb is a baby. At the end, the characters morph into those at the Nativity. 7 roles.
Herod the Great, 714-23 – 15th century: A Biblical play that tells the story of Herod’s order to kill all the infants under two in hopes of killing Jesus. Herod is portrayed as a madman and a Muslim, and the play is rife with anachronism. 10 roles.
- Students will be able to discuss the physical experience of medieval drama.
Relevant Course OutcomeIn order to get a sense of medieval drama as well as to have a different, more active experience with some of the texts, we will, as a class, produce a play (perhaps more than one). There will be class time devoted to this project, both for discussion and for rehearsal
Instructions
CHANGE IN INSTRUCTIONS
Play Worksheet:
The Play assignment is 10% of your overall course grade. To earn that grade, you will complete this worksheet to the best of your ability and as thoroughly as possible.
Due: It will be due by email to Dr. T by Friday, December 5, at midnight (bring rough draft of first set of questions to class in the Hub on Wednesday, December 3, 11AM)
Requirements: typed, any format allowed
Play Performance: December 3, 2014
Sign-up for your roles (by beginning of class, Monday 9/29): Everyman Fall 2014
Resources
Luminarium: Medieval Drama (and play around on “Essays and Articles” and “Web Links”);
North Virginia Community College: Medieval Theatre
Possible Play Choices
“The Chester Noah’s Flood,” 686-97
- 15th century: A Mystery play following the story of Noah and the Flood in the Bible, though diverging from the original story in several interesting ways. 10 roles.
"Everyman" (PDF on Blackboard, “Course Documents”)- 15th century: A Morality play following the revelations of the titular character after he is told that he will soon die and his frantic and futile attempts to find one of a host of personified characters who would be willing to accompany him to the grave. 17 roles.
York Crucifixion Play, 726-33- 15th century: A Miracle/Mystery play depicting the isolated events of Christ’s Crucifixion. Though focusing on the violent event, it exhibits a dark humor. 5 roles.
- List of all York Corpus Christi plays
The Wakefield MasterFilms on Demand: FSU Library
- The Summoning of Everyman
- Highlights of the York Mystery Plays
- The York Mystery Plays: The Death of Christ
York Mystery PlaysENGL 3030: The Middle Ages
Fall 2013
Everyman
ENGL 3030: The Middle Ages
Spring 2012
Everyman
How Play Will Be Graded